Citing the latest statistics from StatCounter, Windows Phone blogging site WMPoweruser noted a 23.5 percent increase in European market share this month, giving Microsoft's mobile OS a 1.68 percent slice of the market.

Of course, that number still places it far behind Apple's iOS, Android, BlackBerry OS, and even Nokia's Symbian. But any upturn in market share, however small, at least shows that Nokia's Lumia phones are starting to gain some traction. Specifically, the latest growth was likely boosted by the May launch of the Lumia 610 and 900 handsets across Europe.

From June to July, Windows Phone's market share grew by 66 percent in Italy, 29 percent in France, 27 percent in Germany, and 18 percent in the U.K. Growth in the U.S. came in at 18.6 percent. Nokia recently trimmed the price of the 900 in half, so it now sells in the U.S. for just $49.99 with a two-year contract, down from $99.99 previously.

StatCounter tracks mobile traffic from around 2 million people across the world -- 40 percent in the U.S. and 25 percent in Europe for a total for 4 billion page loads per month.

Vying against the likes of Apple and Android, Windows Phone faces a tough haul in its bid to boost market share. Nokia and Microsoft are certainly betting on continued growth, especially after the launch of Windows Phone 8 sometime this fall.

About the author

Journalist, software trainer, and Web developer Lance Whitney writes columns and reviews for CNET, Computer Shopper, Microsoft TechNet, and other technology sites. His first book, "Windows 8 Five Minutes at a Time," was published by Wiley & Sons in November 2012.
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